Paper-folding machine



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. SMITH. PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 331,832. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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PAPER FOLDING MAGHINB. Y No. 331,832. Fatented Deo. 8, 1885.

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(No Model.) s sheets-sheet 3. I'. H. SMITH.

PAPER POLDNG MACHINE.

No. 331,832. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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PAPER FOLDING MACHINE. No. 331,832. Patented Deo. 8, 1885.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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UNITED STATES PATnNT @veren FRED H. SMITH, OF BLUE EARTH CITY, MINNESOTA.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

.EPECIFIC'ATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 331,832, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed October 10, i884.

T0 all whom it may concern; g

Be it known that I, FRED H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blue Earth City. in the county of Faribault and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to papenfolding machines; and it consistsin the construction and novel arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a papenfolding machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line x a: in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line y y in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line e z in Fig. I. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View on the line a c in Fig. 2, and Fig. S is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line b b in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line c c of Fig. 6. Fig. l0 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken on the line d d of Fig. 6.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the frame-work of the machine, at one end of which and supported in suitable bea-rings is the double crank shaft AC To the crank-shaft A is connected the pitman-rod A2. The other end of said pitinanrod Ai is connected to the rear end of a slide, B, working in horizontal ways A3 at one side of the frame A of the machine. In its forward part the slide B is provided with aslot, B', the front portion of which is inclined downwardly, the rear portion of said slot B being horizontal.

To the inner faces of the horizontal ways A3 A3 of the frame are secured four vertical strips, B". The two intermediate strips B* B1 form a guide for the. packer-stem C of the packer U', and the two outer strips B, in.

connection with the intermediate strips B", form ways for the guides C* of the packertable Bf. The packer-table B5 is provided Serial No. 145.196. (No model.)

with a detent, B5, which prevents the packertable from being carried up by the spring L when the detent is in engagement with the face of one of the strips Bi. The packer-stem C is provided with a lateral arm, (Il, which projects through the slot B in the slide B, and is connected with the lever I) by a crankarm D'. The crank-arm D is provided with a friction-roller, Dwhich works in the slot B and lessens the friction in said slot B. A spring, B8, is secured to the lower side rail of the frame, and connects at its rear end with the crank-arm D' and bears up against said crank-arm D', and assists in raising the packer after it has pressed the folded paper.

From the rear end of the lever D a pitmanrod, D3, extends upwardly and connects with a lever, E, fulcrumed to the rear end of the frame at F. The lever E is provided with a series of perforations, E, so that the pitnianrod can be adjustedfrom one to another of said holes, to lengthen or shorten the stroke of the lever D, and thereby adapt the machine to fold papers of diiferent sizes.

Near the middle of the machine I provide the first pocket, F', which traverses the inachine both vertically and transversely, and extends from the top or feed table down to the transverse rail F, which forms the bottom of said pocket. This pocket F is divided horizontally at its middle by the transverse rails F3 F* F5 F6, which have spaces between them for the passage of the vertically-working knife G and the horizontally-working knife G. The knife G, which is the rst knife, is secured at one end in a slide, G2, which works in vertical guides G3 G, near the middle of the frame and at one side thereof. The guides G3 G* are grooved in their opposing faces, and the slide G2 .is provided with tongues which fit the grooves. At the upper ends of the guides a stop-block, G5, closes the groove or way in which the slide G2 works. The opposite end of the knife is Without a slide and works in a groove, H, in the upright H. The second ocket, I, is a horizontal pocket, and is located at the middle of the first pocket, F, and eX- tends rearward therefrom. The sides of the first pocket, F, are formed of vertical wire rods arranged in the rails of the pockets at suitable intervals. The second pocket, I, has but one side, that being the lower side, and said side is formed of wire rods also. The third pocket, J is a vertical pocket, is located at the middle of the second pocket, I, and below the same. This pocket J has two sides formed of wire rods, the rods J, next the packer-table, being fixed at both ends, while the rods Ji, that form the opposite side of the pocket J, are bent away from the pocket at their upper ends. The second knife, K, is a horizontal knife. Its blade K extends entirely across the frame of lrhe folder, and its arm Kz is secured to a slide, K3, in a horizontal way, K4, extending from the rear of the frame to the iirst pocket, F. The third k nife,L, is a vertical k ni fe, and works in the third pocket, J, and forms the third fold ,in the paper. The third knife, L, is secured at one end to a vertical slide, L', work ing in vertical ways Ll at the rear end of the machine. Atits middle the slide L is connected by a pitman, L, to one end of a lever, L3, fulcru'med to a crossarm, L", at the rear end of the frame. The other end of the lever L3 is connected, by a link, L, to the rear end of a lever,'L5, fulcrumed to a plate, Lw, secured to the outer faces of the two strips B B nearest the rear end of the frame of the machine. The other end of the lever L5 is connected to the lower end of a rod, B, pivoted to the packer-stern C, and transmits the motion of the packer C to the knife L. A spring, L, connected to the lower rear cross-rail, L7, of the frame of the machine, extends forward under the guard LS, secured to the -slides of the packer-table B5, and supports the packer-table, and at the same time permits it to descend as each paper is placed upon it, so that one paper can be placed folded upon another by the last folding-knife of the series, and thc operation may be continued until the table has been filled, when the papers should be removed, and the packingtable returned to its normal position by releasing the detent, when the spring will return the packing-table to its normal position.

At one side of the frame A, near the rear end and opposite the middle of the strips B4, is i'ulcrumed a lever, M, in a lateral bearing, M. This lever M extends rearwardly and projects through a guard, M2, projecting from the rear post of the frame on that side of the frame on which the lever M is fnlcrumed.

This lever M has an elongated angular slot,

M3, made through it, and said slot M3 curves between its ends. An arm, N, projects laterally from near the rear end of the slide B, and is provided with a vertical arm, N, at its outer end, which arm N is provided with a frictionroller, N2, ou its upper end, which wor-ks in said curved slot M3 and vibrates the free end of Said arm.

To the rear end of the frame A, at the mid: dle of its lower cross-beam, is secured a rearwardly-extending arm, A4, which forms the fulcrurn for the lower end of a vertical lever, N1". This lever N10 is provided with a series of holes, N, a short distance above its fulcral point, and is connected through one hole of a series by a rod, N, with the longer arm N5 of an angle-lever, N6, fulcrumed upon the top of a short post, NT, at one side of the frame A. Thev shorter arm N8 of the angle-lever N6 is connected by a rod, N, with the rear end of the slotted lever M. The rear end of the slotted lever M is also connected with a lever, O, the lower end of which is fulcrumed to a bearing, O', projecting from one of the vertical ways, L2, by a rod, O2. The upper end of the lever O is connected by a rod, O3, to the rear end of the handle O4 of the fourth folding-knife, M6, which works transversely ofthe frame directly beneath the third pocket, J. The folding knife 1W 6 makes the last fold in the paper and deposits the paper on the packer-table. The last or fourth folding-knife, M, has its blade made rectangular in form and extended forward from its handle Ot. The sides or parallel arms of the foulth knife, M, work vin grooves in the sides of its pocket. i

Upon the top of the machine, and in rear of the first pocket, are the grooved parallel ways P, which project beyond the rear end of the machine. The grooves P are made in the inner faces of the ways P, and receive tongues Pz, projecting from the parallel arms P3 of the sliding feed clamp. The lower blade, P4, of the feed-clamp P5 has a vertical stop alongits rear side, and its parallel arms PB extend back to the rear ends of the ways P and project laterally to form the tongues P2. The wooden portions of the parallel arms P3 are provided with hinges PG. The shorter arms, P7, carry the upper iiat blade P9 of the feed-clamp P5, and are connected by a transverse bar, Q, the ends of which project beyond the grooved parallel ways P, and are provided with de pending bracket-arms Q', having their ends turned horizontally inward to cause them to engage the pivoted inclined arms Q2, pivoted to the outer faces of the parallel ways P. The parallel arms Ps are connected by a transverse bar, R, the ends of which are kerfed horizontally to receive the parallel arms PS of the lower blade of the feed-clamp. The transverse bar R is connected to the upper end of the lever N2 by a rod, R', and when the machine is operated the lever Nz reciprocates the feed-clamp and causes the unfolded paper to be presented to the first vertical pocket, F. The feed-clamp moves forward, the depending brackets Q travel up the pivoted inclined arms Q2 and open the jaws of the feed-clamp by raising the upper jaw of said feed-clamp. vUpon the opposite side of the first pocket and pivoted inlthe top plate of the folder is a wire lifter, S, having an upwardly-curved arm, S'. The projecting end of the transverse bar Q strikes the curved IOO IIO

arm S of the lifter S, and this arm S raises The between the jaws of the feed-clamp, and the brackets Q drop from the inclined arms Q2 and pass back beneath them. l/Vhen the middle of the paper has reached the mouth of the first pocket, the first knife, G, descends and carries the paper down into the first pocket, F', drawing the edge of the sheet of paper that is clamped between the jaws of the feedclanip from between said jaws and forms the first fold, making a sheet of four pages. The first knife, G, then travels back to its normal place, and nearly at the same time the second knife, K, moves forward, carrying the paper into the second pocket, I. which is a hori- Zontal pocket, and makes the second fold on a line parallel with the first fold. As soon as the second fold has been made in one paper, the first fold is made in another paper in the manner just described. NVhen the knife K or second knife recedes from the second pocket, I, the third knife, L, which is secured only at one end and works vertically and at right angles to the first and second knives, descends upon the middle of the folded paper in the second pocket, I, and carries it down into the third pocket, J, making afold at the middle of the folded paper and at right angles to the first two folds. As soon as the third knife recedcs from its pocket J, the fourth knife, lll, which is a horizontal knife and travels horizontally and at right angles to the second knife, K, moves across in its guides, strikes the folded paper in the third pocket, J, carries it out of the third pocket, J, makes the fourth fold in carrying the paper out, deposits the folded paper ou. the packer-table and then recedes and leaves the paper upon the packer-table. Just as the fourth knife, lll, receding, passes the third pocket, J, the next paper has been folded as far as the second pocket, I, and the third knife, L, immediately descends and folds the next paper in the third pocket, J, from which it is taken to the packer-table and deposited on the first paper, and thus on until the packertable is filled, when the folded papers are removed, and the operation is continued in the manner above described. A sheet of paper thus folded comprises thirty-two pages or sixteen leaves. The sheets are fed to the folder by the iiier of the printing-press.

The slide Bis provided on its inner face, near its forward end,with afriction-roller, B", which drives the lever B,which is fulcrumed at the lower end below the lower way A3, and works in a guard, Bl, attached to the upper way A3. The upper end of the lever BU is connected by a link, B, to the rear end of the slide of the second knife, K. A spring, B, let into a horizontal recess in the inner face of the slide B, bears against the lever B9 and slips out in front of the lever B9 on the forward movement of the slide B, and stops the second knife, K, and permits the first knife to make its downward stroke. is secured to the outer face of the upper timu Y A guide, C,

ber of the way A3, and a hook, C1", on the end spring, B, projects beyond the outer face of the slide B and engages the outer edge of the guide Gf. The guide C is beveled at the end nearest the middle of the machine toward the outer face of the slide B. Then the slide B moves forward, the spring Bu and hook G10 move with it. Then the hook Gm reaches the beveled end of the guide C9, the hook 01 slips off the end of the guide C and presents a shoulder to the lever B". lVhen the slide B moves backward, the hook Cw of the spring Bu travels up the bevel of the guide C9 and draws the shoulder of the spring Bu out of contact with the lever B, and the second knife, K. stops in the mouth of the second pocket, where it remains until again driven forward, as before described. At this time the feedclamp has been moved back against the stops B1, and the first fold has been made in the paper.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination, in a paper-fol ding machine, of the lifter S, the reciprocating feedclamp having the pivoted jaw, and means, substantially as described, for opening and closing the jaw for grasping one edge of the paper to be fed, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the frame provided with the feed-table having the vertical middle pocket, F', of the lifter S, having the curved arm S, the grooved parallel ways P, the feed-clamp P5 with pivoted upper jaw, thc pivoted inclined arms Q2, and mechan ism, substantially as described, for operating the feed-clamp, substantially as specified.

3. rlhe combination, with the frame provided with the transverse vertical middle pocket, F,the horizontal intersecting pocket l, and the vertical pocket J, ofthe slide B, the friction roller or stud B7 on its inner face, the spring B, the lever B, guide C, link B13, and second knife, K, substantially as specified.

4. The combination,with the frame A, provided with the vertical strips or guideways B4, of the packer having stem C, the packertable B5, the detent BG, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operatin g the packer-tahle, as specified.

5. The com bination,in a paper-folding machine, of the verticallymoving knife G, the liorizontally-moving knife K, the vertically-moving knife L, and the horizontallymoving knife h with the leverl) connected to knife G for operating the latter, slide B, having stud or rollerV Bl, and spring B, lever BU, operated by slide B and connected to knife K, guide C, for operating spring B11 to release lever B9, lever M, lever O, connected to lever M, the knife M being connected to lever O, substantially as described.

6. The combination,with the frame A, provided with the transverse vertical middle pocket, F', the horizontal intersecting pocket I OC IIO

I, the vertical pocket J, the packer, the packer-stein having the lateral arm G2, the lever D, the pitnian-rod D3, and lever E, connected with the slide of the first knife,G, of the first knife, G, secured in the slide G2 in guides G3 G4, and grooved upright H', the second knife, K, horizontal Way K4, lever B, slide B, having` friction-roller B7,spri1ig B, guide C, and link B13, the third knife, L, secured to the vertical slide L', working in vertical Ways, the lever N10, connected to the angle-lever NG, the rod N, Connecting lever N with level1 M, the rod O2, connecting the levers M and O, and the rod O3, connecting the lever O to the handle O* of the fourth folding knife, M, substantially as specied.

7. The Combination, with the frame A, provided With the beveled guide C9, of the slide B, provided with the spring B, and the frietion roller or stud Bl, and the lever B, connected to knife K, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the frame A, provided With the vertical strips B4, the packertable, its slides and supporting-spring,` of the packer having its stem provided with a lateral arm, and the slide B, provided with slot B', substantially as specied.

9. The combination,with the frame provided with the transverse vertical middle pocket, F', the horizontal pocket I, intersecting pocket F', the vertical pocket J ,the packer and packen table, and the knives G, K, L, and M, of the slotted slide B B', the feed-olamp, and thelevers and connecting -r0ds, substantially as described, connecting the knives, packer, and feed-clamp with the slotted slide B B', substantially as specified. i

l0. The combination, with the frame A, provided with the feed table, the vertical middle pocket, F', Vertical knife G, horizontal pocket I, horizontal knife K, vertiealpoeket J, and vertical knife L, of the horizontal knife M, and the packer and packer-table in vertical slides, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the knives, paek- 45 er, and packer-table, as set forth.

In testimony that I olainn the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRED H. SMITH.

W'itnesses:

CHARLES H. FREER, EDWARD MooNEY. 

